The International Journal of Oncology retracts two papers after it was found that the lead author’s interpretation of cancer research results was incorrect.

A Spandidos publication, the International Journal of Oncology, has
retracted two papers from the same author describing biomarkers in cancer
research (1-2). The retractions by the editorial staff at the journal were
reflected September 18 through their website citing “interpretation of the
results was not correct.”

Dr. Abraham Amsterdam was found by an international independent review and the International Journal of Oncology in Greece to have included inaccuracies in his cancer research conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science Department of Molecular Biology.

The first author on both papers, Dr. Abraham Amsterdam, was found by an
international independent review and the International Journal of
Oncology in Greece to have included inaccuracies in his cancer research
conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science Department of Molecular
Biology, based in Israel.

In a written statement to BioTechniques, Amsterdam explained a
specific language inaccuracy inserted in his work that contributed to the
decision by the journal to make the retractions.

“The article was retracted by the editor after he was informed by independent
researchers that I used the term Villus instead of crypt throughout the
article. I tried persuading the editor to publish an erratum instead, but he
insisted on the retraction. I will try to publish this interesting paper
somewhere else using the right term.”

Amsterdam did not comment on any other additional inaccuracies or incorrect
interpretations in the retracted articles.

A Spandidos editorial staff member at the International Journal of Oncology
replied by phone in response to the editorial board’s decision for the
retractions.

“We, as editors, decided there would be a retraction after a long
investigation. Though initially, the reviewers did not notice some
statements that may not have been accurate so we decided to retract them. It
can happen to every journal. It happened to International Journal of
Oncology for the first time in 21 years.”

The journal editor also commented on Amsterdam’s other published articles in
the International Journal of Oncology adding: “We reviewed all the
papers, even those that can be reviewed. There was some disagreement with
the reviews afterward, so that’s all. All the papers were reviewed.”

The Secretariat for Demetrios A. Spandidos at Spandidos also addressed the
specifics of the investigation of the articles its circumstances in a
written statement.

“We have no further comment on the retraction text, which is available
publicly. In general, we do not discuss manuscripts on the telephone as we
need a record of any instruction or information, also the time zones make
this difficult.”

The papers’ other authors and representatives at the Weizmann Institute of
Science did not reply to requests for comment on Amsterdam’s research with
them.